2012-05-07

Chile Seeks to Expand its Defense Footprint in Antarctica

Crew members of the M/S Explorer arrive in Punta Arenas from a Chilean research base in Antarctica after their cruise ship sank Nov. 23, 2007. [Reuters/Ivan Alvarado]

By Janie Hulse

Chile is moving forward with a multibillion-dollar plan to ramp up its presence in Antarctica. The Plan Antarctica, as it is known in Spanish, is focused on improving Chile’s science, tourism and defense capabilities on the icy continent.

This January, President Sebastian Piñera unveiled his program which calls for renovations and construction of bases; investments to ensure Chile’s status as a gateway to Antarctica; consolidation of the country’s 67 existing Antarctica-related entities into one institution, and the development of tourism in the Antarctica-Magallanes region.

While the local media referred to this four-pillar plan as new, it doesn’t necessarily indicate a policy shift.

“Chile has a long-standing interest in maintaining an Antarctic presence, dating back about 50 years. Now, it needs to upgrade existing bases,” said Dr. Jaime García, a retired Chilean Army brigadier who holds a doctorate degree in political science. García explained that these improvements are just a matter of course as Chile claims the Antarctic region as part of its territory, which it calls the XII Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica — the capital of which is Punta Arenas.

Col. Arturo Contreras, a professor at Santiago’s Universidad de Chile, also referred to his country’s Antarctic legacy dating back to the late 16th century, noting that “in the acclaimed poem La Araucana, Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga described Chile and Antarctica belonging together.”

The U.S. icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer docks in Punta Arenas, Chile, on Jan. 6, 2009, before continuing to Antarctica on a scientific mission to study climate change. [Reuters]

Chile has four permanent, year-round bases and eight other bases that operate during the summer months when the climate is a bit more forgiving, with highs of 34 degrees F. One of them, Presidente Eduardo Frei Base, is run by the Chilean Air Force and even hosts a small village called Villa Las Estrellas, with a population of more than 80 military personnel, scientists and professors. Besides Argentina’s Fortín Sargento Cabral, it is the only stable settlement in Antarctica.

In late February, Brazil’s main Antarctic base, Comandante Ferraz — located in Admiralty Bay, King George Island — was destroyed in a fire that killed two Navy officers and obliterated millions of dollars worth of research on the effects of climate change in Antarctica and their impact on the planet.

Under international law, Antarctica doesn’t belong to any one country, though parts of it are claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. An international treaty dating from 1959 sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve and bars military activity on the continent. To date, 49 countries including Chile have signed the Antarctic Treaty, whose principal objectives are to ensure the peaceful use of Antarctica and its surrounding seas while fostering scientific research and avoiding future territorial disputes.

The problem, explained Contreras, is that applying this concept creates confusion and conflict. Countries have long-standing, disputing claims over Antarctica. For example, Chile claims sovereignty of all the land between 53° and 90° west longitude, Argentina between 25°and 74° west and the United Kingdom between 20° and 80° west longitude — meaning that these respective claims overlap.

“Antarctica will continue to be a no-man’s land in the short-term, administered internationally, but ultimately global warming will force change in the medium term, as the real potential of the continent becomes apparent and geostrategic power plays increase,” said the colonel.

Indeed, Chile’s upgraded plans for Antarctica come only a few years after reports revealing the presence of valuable minerals like iron ore, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and coal. The continent may also hold oil reserves — but the challenge is getting to all that mineral wealth under a nearly two-mile thick ice sheath.

Some experts argue that the distance to key markets, forbidding climatic conditions and limited quantities discovered to date make these funds commercially unviable. Moreover, an amendment to the Antarctic Treaty signed in 1991 prohibits mineral exploration except for scientific purposes.

The treaty itself also outlaws military activity in Antarctica. However, military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or other peaceful purposes.

“One mustn’t confuse military presence with armed bases or defensive posturing. The Chilean military has always been responsible for the construction and maintenance of the bases,” said Contreras, though he noted that Antarctica contains 80 percent of the world’s freshwater reserves at a time when water and energy scarcity have become major global concerns.

Antarctica is strategically located between South Africa, Australia and South America and surrounded by three of the world’s largest oceans: the Pacific, the Indian and the Atlantic. This makes it attractive as a base of operations should major conflict arise. In the Western Hemisphere, it lies near Drake’s Passage, an alternative route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. While these stormy waters are difficult to navigate, it is the only alternative to the Panama Canal in the Americas.

Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Peru are the only South American countries that have shown any interest in Antarctica. Yet as Contreras pointed out, only Chile and Argentina have territorial claims and a voice in the Antarctic Treaty system.

“Antarctica is an opportunity for increased Argentine-Chilean cooperation,” he said, “but also broader South American cooperation led by these two bridge countries.”

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3 Comments

Pablo Ernesto| 2013-12-06

Dear Anibal an Pinguino,
Unfortunately you show a total lack of knowledge regarding the research conducted in the past and today by Chile in Antarctica, long before the existence of a "Barão de Teffé" and Brazilian researches, those existed already! The Chilean presence in Antarctica is far away from being limited by military presence or attempts to have babies (hahaha) in that globe’s region, the Chilean Antarctica appeared on maps already on the 19th century. Opposite to what many Brazilians believe, there are many scientists at AL who are not from Brazil... I believe that this bad notion is due to the absence of information (according to studies, education in Brazil is far below the average, pointed along with AL’s last ones on the list), a biased press, and etc. As a fact I mention the partnership Brazil has for an astronomical observatory in Northern Chile (a telescope) widely broadcast as a “Brazilian telescope in Chile”. If you research you will realize that the USA and Chile INVITED Brazil to a partnership for a new telescope. Now, comparing the research capabilities conducted by the United Kingdom or the US along with ALL AL’s countries… It’s obvious an economical, qualitative, quantitative, and FOCUS inferiority.

Anibal| 2013-03-01

This is a living proof of the IRRATIONAL POINT OF VIEW OF THE Chilean Army. Who emblematic words sees. For the reason or by the Force. Very twisted geopolitical point of view.

Pinguino Antartico| 2012-05-11

Unfortunate analysis, both for the ancient geopolitical vision and without depth, as well as by the interviewed parties, that do not reflect anything of the current reality of Chile in Antarctica. If anyone still thinks that by maintaining a military presence in the white continent we improve our claim of sovereignty, we would be the only naive ones among 7 claimant countries, because most of them have turned to Antarctic to carry out advanced research, because in an eventual claim,a country proves that it has developed scientific knowledge from one place in particular (through mainstream magazines, International, ISI) will be an important base, without doubt. It doesn't matter how many babies, commemorative stamps or medals are produced, but empirical demonstration of scientific knowledge. This explains why countries like the United Kingdom, with a "very clear" geopolitical vision, has set as a goal to produce the best Antarctic Science in the world, with the support of all its Antarctic operators. This make you think. Finally, simply review the press... Chile in Antarctica stands out for its military bases?